Sperm receptacle for analysis



Oct. 2, 1951 w WARNER 2,569,702

SPERM RECEPTACLE FOR ANALYSIS Filed Sept. 23, 1948 INVEN TOR. HAROLD H.WARNER AGENT Patented Oct. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPERMRECEPTACLE FOR. ANALYSIS Harold W. Warner, San Diego, Calif.

Application September 23, 1949, Serial No. 117,447

My invention relates to a sperm receptacle for analysis, moreparticularly to an improvement over the sperm receiving cup disclosed inmy issued Patent No. 2,433,538, issued December 30, 1947, and the obectsof my invention are:

First, to provide a receptacle of this class which is particularlydesigned to receive specimens of human sperm, and is provided withretaining features which promote the transportation thereof to testinglaboratories without loss of an appreciable amount thereof;

Second,to provide a receptacle of this class which directly indicatesthe volume of dispensation of sperm, which is one of the determiningfactors in the testing of a male for sterility;

Third, to provide a receptacle of this class which is very efficient inits mechanical arrangement for receiving and retaining the sperm withinthe cup portion of the receptacle;

Fourth, to provide a receptacle of this class having a novel coverprovided witha combination vent and valve means which permits air toescape from the receptacle when the sperm is entering the same, andwhich permits the vent to be closed off after the sperm is received inthe cup, preliminary to the transportation thereof;

Fifth, to provide a receptacle of this class which is adapted to receivesperm from the male organ when in conventional upright position, wherebythe receiving opening in the cover of the receptacle is substantiallyfunnel-shaped and directed on an incline into the cup to a positionsubstantially above the middle thereof, trapping the sperm within thecup below the level of the entrance opening of the cover, preveningleakage of the sperm therefrom preliminary to the removal of thereceptacle from the patient and the transportation thereof; and

Sixth, to provide a receplacle of this class which is very simple andeconomical of construction, efiicient in operation, and which will notreadily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, myinvention consists of certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will behereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in theappended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and tothe characters of reference thereon, forming a part of this application,in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of m sperm receptacle, showing thegraduated scale and vent side thereof; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectionalview,

2 Claims. (Cl. 128-294) 2 taken from the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is asectional view, taken from the line 33: of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cap forthe cover of the receptacle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings,and Fig. 5 is an edge elevational view of the cap, showing a portionthereof broken away and in section to amplify the illustration.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portionsthroughout the several views of the drawings. l

The cup I, cover 2 and cap 3, constitute the principal parts andportions of my sperm receptacle for analysis.

The cup I, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and :3 of the drawings, is a hollowcup-shaped member, preferably made of clear plastic, such as Lucite, orthe like, provided with an open end Ia, over which the cover 2 ipositioned. The cover 2 is provided with an extending skirt 2a, fittedover the annular recessed flange Ib of the cup I, near its open end Ia,all as shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The cover 2 is providedwith a curved recess portion 2b, having a substantially funnel-shapedportion 20 integral therewith, terminating at its open end 2d inwardlyof the open end I a of the receptacle I. This open end 211 is disposedlaterally of the central axis of the cup I, and when in use by thepatient is above the middle of the cup I, so that sperm gravitates tothe lower side 2] of the funnelshaped portion 20.

In the recess flange lb of the cup I is provided a notch portion Idwhich is adapted to be indexed with the notch 2e in the skirt 2a of thecover 2, so that a vent is provided through the notch Id and the notch2e, which communicates with the channel la in the side of the cup I,adjacent the graduated scale portion Ie on the inner side wall of thecup I, all as shown best in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. It will benoted that the channel Ic extends to the normally forward enclosedportion of the cup I, providing an air vent which is disposed within thecover of the receptacle holder, disclosed in my issued patenthereinbefore referred to. The receptacle holder as now manufactured, isprovided with a vent in the forward portion thereof which coincides withthe channel Ic at its end portion, which extends to the enclosed end ofthe cup I.

The cap 3 is a shallow cup-shaped member, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 ofthe drawings, which is adapted to be fitted over the cover 2, asindicated by dash lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, for en- When in use,the cup I and cover 2 are placed within the holder, as disclosed in myformer patent hereinbefore referred to, in place of the insert 2disclosed in said patent. The opening 2d of the funnel Zcis extendeduppermost, while the normallofigitudi'na-l axis of the cup I ismaintained in substantiallyhorizontal position during use. The end ofthe male organ is securely held in the recess 2b, and the sperm ventthereof is directed into the funnel 20 toward: the opening 2d. As thesperm is dispensed, it travels into the cup I through the opening Ed,and grav'i'tastes into the cup I at the lower portion 2f of the funnel20, substantially below the opening 2d, and directly below the air ventId, which automatically vents air according to the displacement of spacein: the cup I caused by entrance thereinto of the 7 sperm. After thespecimen is-col:1ected in the cup I the cup I, together with the cover2, is removed; from the holder as disclosed in my issued patenthereinbefore referred to, and the cover f. is rotated: relative to thecup I, so that the notch 2e is turned out of index withthe notch Id thusclosing the vent and: preventingthe possibility of any leakage of. thespecimen through the vent. The cap 3 is then placed over thecover 2-, asdisclosed: by dash lines in Fig. 2- of the drawings, so that: thespecimen may be transported without loss of any volume thereof, wherebythe testing laboratory technicians may determine the actual volume ofeach individual specimen delivered by the patient,- and may analyze thespecimen for the] sperm count, y

n Itwill be here noted that the substantially transparent character ofthe material of which the cup I is made permits the technician todetrmine the' volume of the specimen in cubic centimeters by viewingthescale le inthe side of the cup I-.

v Though I have shown and described a particular construction,combination and arrangement off' parts and portions, I do not wish to belimited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement,but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction,combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a receptacle of the class described, a cup, a cover for sameup,having" a funnel portion extending into said cup, and provided with aconverging portion open inwardly of the open end of said cup, said cuphaving a vent therein, said vent comprising. anotch portion in the edgeof said cup at its area end, said cover provided with a flange-skirtei'itending over the edge of said cup, and having. a notch adapted tocoincide with the notch in said cup.

ZLJIriJareceptacle of the class described, a cup, a cover for said cup,having a funnel portion extending into saidcup; and providedwith aconverging portionopen inwardly of the open. end of said cup, said cuphaving a venttherein, said vent comprising a notch portion in the edgeof said cup at its open end, said cover provided with a flangeskirtextending over the edge of said cup, and havinga notch adapted tocoincide withthe notch insaid: cup, said. cup provided with. a channelgroove portion in its externalwall extending from the notch in the:surrounding skirt of said cover toward the enclosed end of. said cup.

HARLD WAfiN'E'r'h appearances: GI'IYED The followingv references are ofrecord in the file of this patent:

UNI'TLiJ STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,296,761 Beckers c. Sept122,1-942 FoREiGN' PATENTS Number v Country Date M 110,234 Germany Apr. 24,1900 420,932 France Dec; 8-, 1910

